Granit Xhaka set for second visit from Liverpool scouts

Liverpool will watch Basel midfielder Granit Xhaka in action for Switzerland this week, after
Damien Comolli received glowing reports on the 19-year-old starlet.

Impressed: FC Basel’s Granit Xhaka (Picture: REUTERS)

Xhaka is rated as one of the finest prospects in Europe, and will be watched by the Reds for the second time in seven days when Switzerland take on Argentina.

Liverpool’s director of football Comolli was handed positive reports from scouts after Xhaka’s superb display during Basel’s 1-0 win over Bayern Munich in the Champions League, and has now instructed them to take another look, with Bundesliga side Hamburg said to be readying a £5million bid.

Hamburg had the player on trial in January and remain in pole position, but Liverpool are on the look out for a left-sided central midfielder to add balance to their options, and believe the Kosovo-born teenager represents excellent value, while also fitting their new mandate for young talent with sell-on potential.

Xhaka is not short of other Premier League interest though, with Arsenal and Chelsea known admirers, while Manchester United were weighing up a bid in January, after Basel director Georg Heitz admitted they were one of a number of followers.

‘I do not like naming names, I can only say there’s many clubs who follow him, not just Manchester United,’ said Heitz.

A box-to-box central midfielder with an excellent passing range, Xhaka is almost certain to leave Basel in the summer, but Liverpool know they must act quickly to secure his services, with Hamburg willing to enter a bidding war to get their man.

Xhaka currently has six caps for Switzerland, and has been tipped as a future captain of the national team.